Weighing-machine



(No Model.) Pl Hl RICHARDS. 8 vSheets-Sheet l. WEIGHING MACHINE. No. 578,163. Patented Mar. 2. 1897.

Tllll! in: Nomus pneus cv. vwomumov, mewwnmn. u c

Wiz-Messen 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

F. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

No. 578,163, Patented Ma1,2,1897.

nmunlllll 19u/wwwa Witnesses' ru: Nouns Pains no, morourno, wnma .u c.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 3.

F. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

No. 578,163. Patented Mar. 2,1897.

H Figui Witnesses: In venan' (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 4.

P. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

8 Sheets-Sheet 5,

(No Model.)

IE'. H. RICHARDS. WEIGHING MAGHNE.

No. 578,163. Patented Mar. 2,1897.

Inventor:

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 P. H. RICHARDS.

WEIGHING MACHINE.

No. 578,163. Patented Mar. 2,1897.

62 o 3.9 J3 @fly HI w/sl Inventor:

Wit@ 65565:

am@ @a MQQ (No Model.) F. H. RGHARDS SSheets-Sheet 7 WEIGHING MACHINE.

No. 578,163. Patented Ma1",2,1897,

m ,m Witnesses: Inventor: M "4Q w f F' H' RICHARDS. 8 Sheets-Sheet 8, WEIGHING MACEINB.

Patented Mar. 2, 1897,

z'g.l.

TME mams parme cu. :m wwwa Mmmm-.mm o c i'No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FRANCIS II. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

WEIGHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,163, dated March 2, 1897. Application tiled September 30, 1896. Serial No. 607,398. (No model.)

'To all whom it may con/cern;

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at IIartford, in the county of Hartford and State ot' Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Veighing-Machines, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to weighing-niachines, the object thereof being to provide an improved machine of this character which is readily adapted for automatically weighing and delivering various classes of materials with facility and precision, but more especially those of a dusty nature.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, Figure l is an end elevation of a weighing-machine comprising my present improvements and illustrates the positions occupied by the respective parts at the commencement of operation, a portion of the framing being removed to show more clearly certain peculiar features of the in vention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the niaehine, a portion of the door by which access is had to the interior of the hollow base and column being removed to illustrate the disposition of the incased mechanism. Fig. 3 is an end elevation as seen from the opposite end of the machine from Fig. l and illustrates more particularly the eloser-latehing means and tripping device for the latch. Fig. l is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 2, the framing being in section, taken in line b b, Fig. l, and showing the operative parts in a different position. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views, in end and rear elevations, respectively, of the upper and lower parts of the machine. Fig. 7 is a View somewhat similar to Fig. l, the lower part of the bucket and the adjacent `portion of the base being broken away to show the closer mechanism ,said closer bei-ng in its wideopen'position. Figs. S and 9 are detail views, in rear elevation, of the bucket and beam mechanisms and adjacent parts, showing a method of obtaining a test. Fig. l0 is a scctional plan view showing the peculiar disposition of the beam mechanism, the section being taken in line a d, Fig. l. Fig. ll is a detail view, in central vertical section, of a dustguard; and Fig. l2 is a transverse section in line ce, Fig. 1l.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The framework for supporting the operative parts of the Inachine comprises the hollow or chambered base 2 and the hollow column or upright 3 rising therefrom, the chambers of said base and column communicating with each other.

The more sensitive parts of the machine will be incased or housed within the base 2 and column 3, respectively, so that they may be protected from the deleterious action of dust, dirt, rbc., and the machine consequently rendered certain in its operation.

The weighing mechanism comprises two counter-weighted scale-beams, the weights of which are provided with bucket-supporting arms extending away from each other, and a bucket carried by said arms, whereby such scale-beams Inay be compactl y disposed within the base, occupying, as will be apparent, a minimum amount of space, which is an important essential, especially in large-sized machines,

The base 2 is substantially U-shaped in horizontal section, and it has the interior longitudinal chambers 4 and 5 and the transverse chamber 6, in the first-mentioned two of which the weights IV and WV are longitudinally disposed, said weights being preferably cylindrical.

The bucket-supporting arms of the beam B are designated by 7 and 8, the corresponding arms of the beam B being designated by 7 and S', respectively. A second pair of arms is shown at 9 and 9', oppositely extending into the transverse chamber G from the weights \V and \V, respectively, said arms being furnished with knife-edges, which rest on notched bearings seated in the blocks extending upward from the bottom plate of the base 3, the arms 7 and 7' being similarly equipped, whereby the two beams are properly supported.

The bucket is designated by G and about midway of its depth tapers toward the usual discharge-outlet, which in the present instance is circular in shape and permits the ready discharge of the load. The bucket is furnished with depending brackets 10 and lOl sui tably attached thereto and having enlarge- ICO ments in which are formed sockets for the reception of the vertical posts 12 and 12', which pass through openings formed in the upper part of the base Sand are joined to the curved transverse bars 13, which latter carry, adjacent to the opposite ends thereof, notched bearings resting on knife-edges or equivalent supports carried by the beam-arms 7 and S and 7/ and 8, respectively.

As a means for preventing the entrance of dust, the., through the openings through which the rods 12 and 12 pass I employ a dust-guard, which in the present instance is in the form of an extensible bellows-like envelop of pliable material. (See Fig. 11.)

A ring is shown at 14, disposed about the post-opening, a similar ring being shown at 15, attached to the post l2, such 'rings being joined by the bellows-like envelop 1G, to which I have just referred, whereby the hereinbefore-mentioned object may be obtained.

I have described in detail but one of the dust-guards, or that illustrated in Figs. 1l and l2, its mate being the same in construction.

For the purpose of increasing the leverage exerted by the beams ll and B the weights lV and lV thereof are furnished with the laterally-extendin g counterweighted arms 17 and 17, said arms being operatively connected by means of the link 18, whereby a movement in unison of the two beams is secured.

For controlling the discharge-outlet of the bucket I prefer to employ the closer mechanism shown, which is designated in a general way by L and consists of a flat circular plate or closer proper, 19, suitably supported for rotative movement. The closer 19 is furnished with a projecting spindle 20, which is seated in a bearing formed in the counterweighted yoke 21, the members of the latter being pivotally supported by the bucket G, the office of the counterweights being to return the closer to its normal or shut position on the discharge of a bucket-load.

For imparting the requisite rotation to the closer as it opens, a pawl and ratchet will be preferably employed, su eh ratchet being designated by 22 and being suitably attached to the bucket, and its teeth will be engaged by a suitable pawl, such as that illustra-ted at 23. The pawl is pivotally mounted on the bracket 2t and will be also counter-weighted, whereby its point will be maintained in constant engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 22, the latter being circular.

For maintaining the closer 19 in its normal position or tight against the lower edge of the bucket G the following instru mentalities may be employed: A relatively short rockshaft is shown at 25, mounted on the bucket and having a rock-arm 26, to which is pivoted the relatively long rod 27, said rod being similarly connected to the lug 2S, projecting centrally from the upper face of the closer 19, and also passing through the bucket, so

.ff/sues that the closer when latched may be maintained in the shut position without sagging, thereby obviating a frequently-existing diffieulty. The shaft 25 also has the arm 2i), which is in position to be engaged by a suitable closer-latch when the closer is shut.

The closer-latch is designated by 30 and is counterweighted, it being furnished with an angular shoulder 31, against the inner face of which the projecting arm 2!) on the rockshaft 25 is adapted to bear when the closer is shut. (See Fig. lVhen the shoulder 3l is disengaged from the free end of the arm 29, the closer 1S) will be released and may be forced open by the weight of the contents or load within the bucket, during which action it will be rotated by the counterweighted pawl 23, which is in engagement with the circular ratchet 22 on the bottom of the closer, so that on such rotation particles of material will be prevented from adhering to the closer.

From the foregoing description of the closer mechanism it will be evident that my present invention includes, in connection with weighing mechanism embodying a bucket and a closer for said bucket, means for imparting to said closer a step-by-step or intermittent movement on one of its strokesin the present instance as it opens-whereby the mass of material sustained by said closer will be positively dislodged or shaken therefrom.

In the modification of the invention herein illustrated l have shown mechanism for effecting' a rotary step-by-step movement of the closer, but it is distinctly to be understood that the invention is not to be so limited.

For supplying the bucket G with a stream of material the supply hopper or spout ll, which is suitably joined to the column or standard 3, may be employed.

rFhe lower or stream-directing wall of the chute or hopper ll inclined downward toward the bucket, it also having a vertical lip 32, by which the course of the llowingstream is changed, so that such stream is not directed against the forward part of the stream-controlling valve 33, the power necessary to effect the closure of said valve being thereby considerably reduced.

l have shown located within the hopper or chute ll and suitably att-ach ed to a wall thereof a flexible apron or detent device Si, which has a series of weights or ribs secured thereto at suitable intervals, which serve to hold said apron against the stream, the ribs taking a iirm hold of the mass, whereby its speed will be checked, said apron also preventing scattering of the material when it flows in a very fine stream.

It is necessary in weighing different classes of materials to supply the saine in streams of diiferent volumes to the bucket, and for adapting my present machine to this work l have illustrated herein means Afor quickly changing the size of the supply-stream. The streamregulating means shown consists of a pivot- IOO IIO

ally-supported plate 37, constituting the front wall of the discharge-outlet of the hopper H, said plate 37 being furnished with a projecting crank-arm 33, having a suitable pin adapted to be seated in any one of a series of recesses formed in an end wall of the chute, whereby the plate 37 may be held in an adjusted position, as will be understood.

The valve 33, which is controlled by the weighing mechanism, is oscillatory beneath the discharge-outlet of the chute H, it being pivotally supported between the forward projecting arms 39 and 40 of the column The mechanism for effecting the closure of the valve 33, which is shown in its wide-open position in Figs. l and 2, will now be described. A relatively short rock-shaft is illustrated at 4l passing through and supported by one of the walls of the column 3, it being provided at its outer end with a crank-arm 42, which is connected by the interposed link 43 to the valve 33, said rock-shaft 4l having on its inner end the crank-arm 44, connected by a universal joint to the relatively long thrust-rod 45. A valve-closing cam is illustrated at 46, it being operative with the valve and pivotall y mounted within the hollow column or upright 3, its angular arm 46 being operatively connected, by means of the link 47, to the thrustrod 45. The cam is positioned to be engaged by a suitable device for oscillating t-he same, whereby such motion will be transmitted to the valve 33 through the described connections for effecting its closure.

There are located within the hollow column or upright 3 two operatively-connected levers, (designated by 43 and 49, respectively,) said levers being connected by the link 50. The lever 43 is furnished with an antifriction-roll 48, which is adapted successively to engage the connected working faces 5l and 5l ot' the cam 46, the last-mentioned tace being of such shape as to permit the exertion of a relatively great amount of leverage on said cam to effect the final and rapid closure of the valve for cutting off the last part of the supply-stream. The lever 49 is furnished with an ad justable counterweight 52.

The operation of the valve-closing' mechanism just described will be apparent from an inspection oi Figs. l, 2, and 4. The lever 49 being at the limit of its upstroke, as indicated in Fig. 2, and dropping, (such action, however, being limited by suitable means) the roll-arm of the lever 48 will be thrust upward, and, the 1101148 traveling along the cam-face 5l, the cam 46 will be swung to the left in correspondence with the movement of the lever 49, and as said cam swings an upward thrust will be imparted to the rod 45, and the link 43, by reason of its connections wit-h the rod 45, will be moved to the left, (see Fig. 1,) whereby the valve will be closed. Nhen the roll 43/ has reached the intersection of the two cam-faces 5l and 51, as indicated in Fig. 4, the valve 33 will be momentarily held to permit the flow of a drip-stream into the bucket G for the purpose of completing the partial load therein. Then the valve is released, the roll 4S will be caused to travel rapidly alongthe cam-face 5l by the sudden dropping of the counterweighted lever 49, so that the final closing movement ot' the valve will be a rapid one, and during this last-mentioned movement a supplemental or drip valve will be brought into play for cutting' olf the last part of the drip-stream.

The supplemental or drip valve is designated by 53, it consisting of a blade pivotally supported near the discharge end of the main valve 33, an extended pivot of said supplemental valve being furnished with a crankarm 54, having a roll 55, which is caused to impinge against the working' face of the cam 56, constituting' an extension of a wall of the chute H, so that when the valve 33 is given its final closing movement the roll 55 will be caused to travel along the face of the cam 5G, and the supplemental or drip valve 53 will be thrust upward, as indicated in Fig. 7, for cutting oit the drip-stream, as will be obvious.

On the opening movement of the valve the supplemental o r drip valve 53 will simply drop to its normal position as the roll 55 leaves the effective face of the cam 56.

For openin g the valve 33 to permit the low of the su pply-stream into the bucket the following mechanism will be employed: A valveactuating device in the form of a counterweighted lever is shown at 57, shiftably supported by the beam B, it being pivoted at one end to an car or lug 58 on the weight W, said lever normally forming a part of the counterpoised weight and being sustained during such period by the pin 59, which extends trem the weight 17". (See Fig'. lO.) The thrust-rod 45 terminates in a hook or stirrup GO, against the horizontal portion of which the projection or roll 6l, mounted on the lever 57, is adapted to bear during the major period of operation, as indicated in Fig. 2, said lever exerting a force in excess of the counterweighted valve-closing lever 49.

The operation ot the valve-opening mechanism is as follows: Fig. 2 represents the counterweighted lever 57 in its normal position, it resting against the pin 59 on the weight 17". The valve being wide open and the closer shut, a stream of material will ilow into the bucket, and when a certain proportion ot' the load has been received by the bucket it and the poising sides of the two beams B and B' will descend, the counterpoised sides oi' said beams ascending and the lever 57 rising therewith, and its roll 6l, moving away from the horizontal portion of the hook 60, will permit the upward thrusting of the rod 45 by means of the coacting levers 43 and 49 and the cam 4U, which is connected to said rod, whereby the valve 33 will be closed, the movement of the cam 46 being in unison with the beam mechanism and hence the lever 57. When the valve has reached its closed position, the closer will be opened, and con- IOO IOS

IIO

with said valve, will be likewise held, and its hook GO being in engagement with the roll (S1 of the counterweighted lever 57 the return movement of said lever with the beam will be blocked, as will be understood. lVhen the valve is released, the rod -l5 and lever 57 will be freed also, and as the latter returns to its normal position it will draw the thrustrod 45 downward, and in so doing the valve 33, by reason of its operative connections with said thrust-rod, will be opened.

I have illustrated herein reeiprocally effective stops operative, respectively, with the valve and with the closer, they being in the form of skeleton segments (52 and G3, the iirstmentioned rigidly depending from the valve, the cooperating member being suitably afxed to the rock-shaft 25. lVhile the valve S3 is open, the segment G3 will be contiguous to the curved face of the segment 62, so that should the latch 30 be tripped the oscillation of the segment (53 will be prevented by the cooperating member G2, and said relation will continue until the valve 33 has reached the end of its cut-off stroke, the opening of the closer 19 being also prevented. Then the valve has reached the end of its cut-olf stroke, the segment will have crossed the plane of the curved face G3, so that the latter may oseillate, and when the latch 30 is tripped the curved face of said segment (33, when it rocks, will be approximately in contact with the point G2 of the segment G2, so that retractive movement of the latter will be arrested, the valve 33 of course being locked in its closed position and being so maintained until the closer 19 is shut, when the valve 3S and connected parts will be unlocked.

The valve 33 will be intercepted at a predetermined point in its closure to permit the 'flow of a reduced or drip stream into the bucket, and for this purpose the following instrumentalities will be employed: The pivotpin 45' is shown having joined thereto the vertical rod Get, the lower end of which is pivoted to an angular arm 65 of the lever G5, said lever being supported for oscillation within the chamber of the column 3 and having at its lower end a shoulder GG.

It will be understood that the lever G5 operates in unison with the thrust-rod 45, and that when its movement is arrested said thrustrod, and hence the valve 33, will be checked.

A counterweighted by-pass stop is illustrated at (37, it being pivoted to a projection on the weight XV, the upright arm of said bypass having a shoulder G7', which is adapted to engage the cooperating shoulder 6G on the lower end of the lever 65 at the commencement of the poising period. As the thrustrod 45 moves upward, the free arm of the lever will be swung to the left, and the by-pass G7 rising with the weight of the beam B the shoulder' of said by-pass will engage the shoulder GG on the lever U5, so that the thrust-rod and connected parts may be held against further progress. At about the time the parts are thus held the antifriction-roll 11S' will be at about the intersection of the cam-faces 51 and 51', as indicated in Fig. a. Vhen the load is completed, the shoulder O7/ will be thrust above the shoulder GG, so that the lever 65, the thrust-rod i5, and the valve will be released, as also the lever i9, and the latter dropping the roll -lS/ of the lever -lS will be caused to ride along the cam-face 5l', whereby said cam will be given a quick movement for effecting an instantaneous and final closure of the two valves 33 and 53 for cutting off the supply.

For tripping the latch 30 the following mechanism may be employed: A rock-shaft is illustrated at G8 journaled in the opposite walls of the column or upright 3 and extending therefrom, said shaft having the lug 69, which is disposed in the path of movement of the projection on the thrust-rod 45. rlhe shaft GS carries at its outer end the latchtripper or arm 71, which is adapted te impinge against the arm 72, integrally formed with the closer-latch 3 At the commencement of the poising period the projection 70 will be adjacent to the lug (59 on the shaft G8, it being understood that the valve and connected parts are temporarily held. lVhen said valve is released, the projection 70 will be caused to abut against the lug G9 on the upward movement of the thrust-rod 4-5, so that on the continuation of said movement the shaft 08 is rocked and the arm 71 will be caused to impinge or bear against the arm 72 of the latch 30, whereby the shouldered member of said latch will be depressed and the shoulder 31 disengaged from the free end of the arm 29, so that the closer 19 will be released, at which time it may be forced open by the weight of the contents within the bucket.

In connection with the machine means are provided for weighing out fractional parts of a lead. A load-beam is shown at 75, it being in the present instance formed integral with the weight lV of the scale-beam 13, said loadbeam being furnished with a sliding weight 7 e', which is longitudinally reciprocatory within the transverse chamber 5 of the base and toward and from a zero or arbitrary point on said load-beam, the latter being suitably graduated-though said graduations are not shown hereinto either add to or subtract from the total weight of the bucket mechanism.

A set-screw is shown at 77 passing through the weight 7 G, it being adapted to bind against the load-beam and hold said weight in an adjusted position.

It is desirable at infrequent intervals to make tests to ascertain if the machine is IOO IIO

weighingproperly, and I have provided means for this purpose, which will now be described. One of the walls of the column is shown supporting the rock-shaft 80, the latter being furnished at its outer end with a crank-arm 8l, secured thereto by a pin, said rock-shaft having at its inner end the screw 82, which is embraced by the reciprocatory nut or collar 83, connected by a link 84 to a thrust-rod 45, so that as said shaft 8O is rocked the nutor collar 83 will be reciprocated back and forth to draw the thrust-rod 45 away from and return it to its normal position. The crank-arm 8l has the thumb-piece 85, to which is connected the pin 86, which is adapted to enter one of a series of recesses, as 87, formed in the outer face of the column (See Fig. 8.)

During the major period of operation of the machine the pin 86 will be seated in the uppermost one of the series of recesses 87, whereby the rod 45 will be maintained in its vertical or normal position.

To make a test, the pin 8G will be withdrawn from the uppermost recess, and the crank-arm 8l will be revolved and said pin thrust into the intermediate recess of the series, as indicated in Fig. 8, so that the thrustrod 45 will be oscillated to the right through the medium of the described connections, and the projection 70 will be carried beyond its plane of effective action, and as said rod contin ues its upward movement during the weighing of a load said projection does not abut against the lug 69 on the rock-shaft 68. The latch 30 therefore not being tripped and a true load being in the bucket, the loaded bucket and beam mechanism, after a few slight oscillations, will assume an equipoised position.

During the operation just described the hook GO will be in engagement with the projection Gl on the counterweighted lever 57, which forms a part of the beam mechanism, so that the closing movement of the valve will be checked or limited by the beam mechanism. When the valve has reached the end of its cut-off movement, the thumb-piece 85 will be again grasped and the pin 86 withdrawn from the intermediate recess of the series and the crank-arm 8l further revolved until the pin 86 is opposite the lowermost recess of the series, into which it is then thrust, the hook having been disengaged from the projection 6l, the rod 45 thereby bein g thrown out of operative connection with the beam mechanism, so that the bucket, having received a true load, will assume an equipoised position with the beam mechanism. If otherwise, the difficulty may be seen and reme died.

I have provided means for preventing the rotative movement of the collar or nut 88 when a test is being made, such means consisting of a lined pin 92, extending inward from the column 8 and passing through an eye formed in the arm or extension 93 of the nut or collar 88.

The connected base and column 3 have formed therein a relatively wide opening` closed by a door 90, by which access is had to the vinterior of the said base and column, said door being suitably hinged near its lower end to the base 2 and being also held tightly closed by a suitable catch, as 91, which engages some part of the framing. lVhen the door 90 is open, the entire weighing mechan ism and operative parts which are incased will be disclosed to view for any purpose.

The operation of the hereinbefore-deseribed weighing-machine is as follows: Fig. 1 represents the positions occupied by the various parts at the commencement of operation, the closer 19 being held in its shut position by the latch 30, which is in engagement with the arm 29 on the rock-shaft 25, the latter being connected to said closer. The valve 88 being wide open, a stream of material of large volume will flow in to the bucket G from the chute or hopper, and when a certain proportion of the predetermined load or charge has been received by the bucket it and the poising sides of the two beams B and B will descend,the counterpoised sides of said beams ascending, and the roll Gl, leaving the hook (50 of the thrust-rod 45, will permit the latter to rise, so that the counterweighted lever 49 may drop, and in so doing said lever will impart an opposite stroke to the lever 48, the roll 48 of which is caused to ride along the face 5l of the cam 46 and oscillate the latter to the left, whereby the valve will be partially closed by reason of its operative connections with said cam. At about the time the roll 48 reaches the intersection of the cam-faces 5l and 5l the shoulder G7 of the by-pass G7 will engage the cooperating shoulder 6G on the lever 65 and will hold said lever, and consequently the valve 33, which is connected tl1ereto,against further movement. On the completion of the bucket-load the bucket and poising sides of the beams will descend farther, the by-pass 67 being elevated and its shoulder 67 raised clear of the shoulder GG on the lever 65, thereby releasing the valve, and the valve-operating lever 49 dropping farther the roll 48 will be caused to travel along the cam-face 5l for imparting an accelerated and final closing movement to said valve 33 for cutting off the last part of the supply-stream. During the final movement of the thrust-rod 45 the projection 70 thereon will be caused to abut against the lug G9 on the rock-shaft G8, thereby rocking said shaft and concurrently oscillating the arm 7 l, whereby said arm will be caused to impinge against the arm 72 of the latch 80, so that the shouldered member of said latch will be depressed and the shoulder 8l disengaged from the arm 29 of the rock-shaft 25, this action releasing the closer 19.

Vhile I have shown a rotary closer as the preferred form to be used, it is obvious that other kinds of intermittingly-movable closers are within the purview of my invention.

IOO

IIO

ISO

No claim is herein made to the combination, with weighing mechanism including a bucket, of a closer and means for imparting to the closer a step-by-step movement, such subject-matter being` set forth and claimed in my application tiled April 27, 1896, Serial No. 580,210.

Having described my invention, l claiml. The combination with weighing m echanism embodying two counterweighted scalebeams the weights of which have bucket-supporting arms, said arms extending away from each other, and a bucket carried by said arms; of a su pply-hopper; a valve for said hopper, controlled by the weighing mechanism; a loadbeam formed integral with and extending from one of the beam-weights; a sliding weight on said beam; and means for maintaining said sliding weight in an adj usted position.

2. The combination with a hollow base having two longitudinal chambers and a communicating transverse chamber, of weighing mechanism embodying two counterweighted scale-beams supported for movement within said longitudinal chambers; and a bucket carried by said scale-beams aload-beam connected to one of said beam-weights; a weight longitudinally movable in the transverse chamber and sliding' on said load-beam; and means for maintaining said sliding weight in an adjusted position.

The combination with a hollow base having two longitudinal chambers, of weighing mechanism embodying two counterweighted scale-beams the weights of which are located in said longitudinal chambers, said weights also having arms extending away from each other; a bucket; and posts connected to said bucket and passing' through openings in the base, said posts having transverse bars provided with notched bearings resting on knifeedges on the beam-arms.

4. The combination with a hollow base having two longitudinal chambers, of weighing mechanism embodying two counterweighted scale-beams the weights of which are located in said longitudinal chambers, and a bucket; posts connected to the bucket and passing through openings in the base, each of said posts being joined to a transverse bar provided with notched bearings resting on knifeedges on the scale-beams; and dust-guards disposed about said openings.

5. The combination with a hollow base having two longitudinal chambers and a communicating transverse chamber, of weighing mechanism comprehending a pair of counterweighted scale-beams located in the longitudinal chambers; a bucket; posts connected to said bucket and passing through openings in the base, each of said posts being joined to a transverse bar provided with notched bearings resting on knife-edges on the scalebeams; a weighted load-beam extending from one of the beam-weights, the weight of said load-beam being longitudinally adj ustable in said transverse chamber; rings disposed abou t said openings; complemental rings on said posts, joined to the other rings by extensible dust-guards disposed about said posts; and a hopper having avalve controlled by the weighing mechanism.

(l. The con'ibination with a base having interior longitudinal and transverse chambers, of weighted beams supported in the longitudinal chambers in parallelism with each other and extending into the transverse chamber; arms outwardly projecting from each of said beams, the arms of one beam projecting in an opposite direction from those of the other; connectedlaterally-extendingcountcrweighted arms projecting from said beams; and a load-receiver supported by the outwardlyprojecting arms, for the purpose specified.

7. The combination with a Lil-shaped base having interior longitudinal and transverse chambers, of weighted beams supported in the longitudinal chambers in parallelism with each other and extending into the transverse chamber; a series of separated arms outwardly projecting from one side of each of said beams, the arms of one beam projecting in an opposite direction from those of the other; laterallyextending counterweighted arms connected together and projecting from the inner sides of said beams; and a load-receiversupported by the series of outwardly-projecting arms, for the purpose specified.

S. he combination with weighing mechanism embodying a bucket, of a supply-l'iopper; a valve for said hopper; a rod operative with said valve; a rock-shaft having a screw; and a collar embracing said screw and operatively connected to said rod.

f). The combination with weighingmechanism embodying a bucket, ot' a supply-hopper; a valve for said hopper; a rod operative with said valve; a rock-shaf t having a screw; a collar embracing said screw and operatively connected to said rod; and a crank-arm on said shaft. p

lO. The combination with weighing mechanism embodying a bucket, of a supply-hopper; a valve for said hopper; a rod operative with said valve; a rock-shaft having a screw; a collar embracing said screw; and a link pivotally connected, respectively, to said collar and rod.

ll. rlhe combination with a bucket and beam mechanism for supporting the same, of a supply-hopper; a valve for said hopper; a rod cooperative with the valve and beam mechanism; a rock-shaf t having ascrew; and a collar embracing said screw and operatively connected to said rod.

l2. The combination, with a bucket having a closer, of means including a latch for holding said closer against movement; a shaft mounted in the framework, said shaft carrying a lug; a latch-tripper connected to the outer end of said shaft; a hopper; avalve for said hopper; a rod operatively connecting said valve and provided with a projection for engaging said lug; and means for shifting said IOO IIO

rod, whereby on the upstroke thereof it will engage the lug, rock the shaft, and trip the latch.

13. The combination with weighing mechanism embodying a bucket, of a supply-hopper; a valve for said hopper; a rod operative with said valve; a rock-shaft having a screw; a collar embracing said screw and operatively connected to said rod; and a guide for said collar.

14. The combination with weighing mechanism embodying a bucket, of a supply-hopper; a valve for said hopper; a rod operative with said valve;` a rock-shaft'having a screw; a collar embracing said screw and having an arm provided with an eye; and a pin passing through said eye.

l5. The combination with beam mechanism and a bucket supported thereby, of a lever shiftably supported by the beam mechanism; a hopper; a valve; and a rod operatively connected to said valve and having a hook for normally engaging a projection on said shift able lever.

16. The combination with beam mechanism and a bucket supported thereby, of a lever shiftably supported by the beam mechanism; a hopper and its valve; a rod operatively connected to said valve and having a hook for normally engaging a projection on said lever; and shifting means for said rod.

17. The combination with a pair of counterweighted scale-beams the weights of which are furnished with counterweighted arms, of a lever shiftably connected to a lug on one of the beam-weights and resting on a stud on the weight of one of said arms; a bucket; a hopper; a valve for said hopper; and a rod operatively connected to said valve and having a hook adapted to engage a projection on said shiftable lever.

1S. The combination with a hopper, of a valve therefor; a cam operative with said valve; and two operatively-connected levers, one of which is adapted to actuate said cam.

i9. The combination with a hopper, of a valve therefor; a cam operative with said valve; and two operatively-connected levers, one of which is adapted to aetuate said cam, the other lever being counterweighted.

20. The combination with a hopper, of a valve therefor; a cam operative with said valve; a lever adapted to aotuate said cam; a counterweighted lever; and a link pivoted, respectively, to said levers.

2l. The combination with beam mechanism, of a bucket supported thereby; a hopper; a valve; a rod cooperative with the beam mechanism and with said valve; acam operative with said valve; and a pair of operativelyconnected levers, one of which is adapted to actuate said cam.

22. The combination with weighing mechanism embodying a bucket, of a supply-hop per; a valve therefor; a lever operatively connected to said valve; and a stop mounted on the beam mechanism and adapted to engage said lever at a predetermined point to thereby hold said valve.

23. The combination with beam mechanism and a bucket, of a hopper; a valve; alever; a rock-shaft operatively connected, respectively, to said valve and lever; and a stop adapted to successively engage and release said lever at predetermined points.

24. The combination with a bucket having a closer, and means embodying a latch, for holding the same against movement; a rockshaft having a lug; a reciprocatory rod having a projection adapted to engage said lug; a latch-tripper on said shaft; a second rockshaft operatively connected to the closer and having a stop; a hopper and its valve provided with a stop coacting with said iirstmentioned stop.

FRANCS 1l. RICHARDS.

Vitnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE, HENRY BissELL. 

